(07-15-2014 07:08 PM)scotian Wrote:  There's lot of jobs out there where you can work by yourself and drive all over Western Canada and get paid very well to do so, field service techs are what comes to mind, those guys are road whores. Personally I hate driving, I had to stop today on my way back from a job in Conklin and sleep for an hour because I felt like I was going to fall asleep and the 881 and 63 aren't highways where you want to do something like that!

Yes that run I did out to Conklin and Surmont was taking its toll on the way home. I could fell the weight of my eyes as tiredness was taking over. I will not put myself in that situation again. The 881 has enough pull outs to where I can take a nap. Today I was finally taught the official shit about driving. I cant go any more than 14 hours total work + driving without giving myself 10 hours off. I guess my 18.5 hour day was just a tad bit over . In all seriousness, I'm never pushing myself like that again.

I used to literally smack myself in the face to stay awake, especially on LONG roads at hour 13.. The Nevada desert comes to mind... I must have slapped my face 50 times that night to stay awake. If my Co-Driver had seen me he would have thought I was nuts. Everyone suggested taking caffiene pills but when I started drinking coffees to stay awake, I stopped sleeping and one night while driving (I think the 4th night without sleep) I had black dog, I swear to god I saw bugs bunny on the road riding along with me.

WTF is this??? Do you have scorpions up in the oil patch? That might be a deal breaker for me, I had enough of those guys in Mexico.

https://hivoltsafety.ca/courses.php


Problem Wildlife & Bear Awareness: ($160.00) This course covers bears, moose, cougars, snakes, scorpions, ticks, bees and poisonous plants. Course is 4 hours

Wildlife can be pretty rough in the summer. Winter isn't as bad but there's still the danger of cougars, wolves, and the occasional Road kill, the type that can kill YOU.

I know this guy, he was working as an intrument tech up in Conklin, he was chased by a black bear once when he got too close to take a picture ! You can expect some stupid shit from people every now and then !

A little update from my prep to take on Alberta by the horns again :

Got a room in a house. Its a furnished room, with attached bathroom (tub, vanity, toilet, so fancy). The owner, shes kinda hot haha - a busty milf as I would say; works with Syncrude in FortMac for 2 weeks, and is home for a week, so I pretty much have the house for myself, with her 16yr old son. Oh did I also mention that the rent is only $400, which I consider myself lucky lol. Its all because of Kijiji though !..

On the Employment side, I have my Rig fall Arrest course booked for the 11th -12th August, plus I got a few leads from drilling companies, as I have a little service rig experience from 2 years ago, but as it was mentioned earlier, its always a good idea to notch up your experience a bit. I have also been looking into Field Service Tech as a possible career path. My long term goal is to work my dry ass off in the winter, and try to do Petroleum Eng diploma during the summer (2 years), with mediocre construction gigs on the side !

If someone is trying to get out here, and wants to rent a car, head over to Cheap Car Rental- I booked a small car for 5 days for $95.30 including EVERYTHING except insurance. During these 5 days I'll be looking at a potential truck to buy between the range of $800-$1300 - After all these expenses paid, I will have enough left with me to feed me for 2 months with out a job, which is not possible in Alberta to NOT find a job lol !

so YES - after coming back from Alberta 2 years ago, broke and depressed, this thread has motivated me enough to go back out there and conquer the shit out of it ! I land on the 9th and already counting days

What sort of trades would put you so close to bears? I can't imagine welders, hydro vac drivers, safety watch people or mechanics would be close to the wild life. Why don't they have people walking perimeter with shotguns. I wouldn't hesitate to blow the head off a black bear that came within 100ft of me. Christ if thats the case, then they should hire out ex-canadian infantry, give them some dart guns and tell them to go hunting 24/7, round up all the bears and put them in a Zoo.

Love the information in this thread. Just some quick questions.

I'm 28 and have a graduate degree in International Affairs but have yet to find consistent, well-paying employment in my field. I've decided I'd like to leave Ottawa and find a job that I can invest in and finally make decent money. I'd like to eventually return to a white collar job (perhaps with a company I work for in a trade), but not soon.

I have no previous experience in trades and manual labour. I think I might be interested in beginning an apprenticeship as an electrician, millwright or welder (but I'm open to anything). I think I'd prefer to live and work in a city like Edmonton or Calgary or Red Deer instead of the Oil Sands. The amazing opportunities described in this thread - are there many of them within these cities?

One of my major concerns is that I'd like to find a place to settle down (ie. get an apartment). I have no problem working long hours and/or overtime, but I'd rather sleep in my own bed at night. I have a dog and would bring him with me, so I'm trying to avoid jobs that put me in a camp or fly me to a job site for on/off rotations.

Any suggestions? Fort Mac is really expensive so I think it defeats the purpose of chasing a high-paying trade. Am I better off just looking for an apprenticeship in one of the cities I listed? Also, how likely is it that I could secure something before driving out West? I know in Fort Mac I could just land there and find something, but given my situation above it would be hard to know which city to arrive at and settle in.

Any thoughts/feedback? Thanks.

(07-16-2014 11:03 AM)mooseontheloose Wrote:  Love the information in this thread. Just some quick questions.

I'm 28 and have a graduate degree in International Affairs but have yet to find consistent, well-paying employment in my field. I've decided I'd like to leave Ottawa and find a job that I can invest in and finally make decent money. I'd like to eventually return to a white collar job (perhaps with a company I work for in a trade), but not soon.

I have no previous experience in trades and manual labour. I think I might be interested in beginning an apprenticeship as an electrician, millwright or welder (but I'm open to anything). I think I'd prefer to live and work in a city like Edmonton or Calgary or Red Deer instead of the Oil Sands. The amazing opportunities described in this thread - are there many of them within these cities?

One of my major concerns is that I'd like to find a place to settle down (ie. get an apartment). I have no problem working long hours and/or overtime, but I'd rather sleep in my own bed at night. I have a dog and would bring him with me, so I'm trying to avoid jobs that put me in a camp or fly me to a job site for on/off rotations.

Any suggestions? Fort Mac is really expensive so I think it defeats the purpose of chasing a high-paying trade. Am I better off just looking for an apprenticeship in one of the cities I listed? Also, how likely is it that I could secure something before driving out West? I know in Fort Mac I could just land there and find something, but given my situation above it would be hard to know which city to arrive at and settle in.

Any thoughts/feedback? Thanks.

Congrats on thinking about moving out west for opportunities. There are alot of entry level positions which require no experience at all ! My first job was as a floorhand with zero experience in anything ! And I loved it.

I'll be honest here. If you are bringing a dog with you, and want to work, and make good money and succeed, as far as I'm concerned, it wont go too well. My personal opinion is to come here, work, bank as much as you can without being responsible for anyone ! That way you would be able to work more, and move up faster, because you know what, dogs sometimes get sick, and you have to take them to a vet, so taking time off just because your dog is sick, lol not sure if that will be ok with the majority of people you would be working under. This is not a typical office staff where they are understanding of your pets' position; all they know is that they-gotta-get-er-done !

Secondly, you have to be here in person to actually secure a job. There are alot of Jacks and Jills here with the same qualifications as you, so why hire someone from Ottawa when theres a person with the same qualification right outside their door ?

Thirdly, if you actually book a ticket and to decide to come out here, I would suggest to re-read the thread, and prepare to HUSTLE HARD !

Thanks, good advice. My plan re: dog would be to find a reliable dog sitter/walker that I could count on on short notice when I work OT or out of town assignments. I'm also considering coming out for 1-2 months and bringing the dog after (if my family is willing to home him until then) once I have a job and am settled. Giving him up isn't really an option for me.

More input welcome.

Read the thread, it's been answered about 200 times.

(07-16-2014 10:42 AM)BadWolf Wrote:  What sort of trades would put you so close to bears? I can't imagine welders, hydro vac drivers, safety watch people or mechanics would be close to the wild life. Why don't they have people walking perimeter with shotguns. I wouldn't hesitate to blow the head off a black bear that came within 100ft of me. Christ if thats the case, then they should hire out ex-canadian infantry, give them some dart guns and tell them to go hunting 24/7, round up all the bears and put them in a Zoo.

What fucking world do you live in? You can't just go around shooting things here in Canada. If you kill a bear with a gun without being in hunting season and having tags for it even if it attacks you, you go to prison.

Just want to give a shout out and give my thanks to scotian again. Without this thread I would still feel trapped in a corporate life, living a shitty mainstream path of wife, promotion, house, kids, retirement, with no hope of escape.

Finally landed a fly in/out gig in fort mac in my trade. It's been a work in progress for a year and a half going from starter, to trying to get apprenticed before my company went bankrupt, to working for a different soul crushing company in the city. I've been biding my time gaining experience, completing school, and finally was able to pull the trigger on a better opportunity. Soon, I hope, I will see those all so coveted six figures.

To those guys who ask endless questions and keep contemplating, but are hesitant to make the jump, ask yourself if you can handle the physical labour. Ask yourself if you can handle your supervisor screaming at you calling you a fucking cunt for fucking up a job. Ask yourself if you are able to be a team player, able to learn the ways of the trades, and can fit into many crews. You know in your gut if you can do this.

If you're coming from white collar to blue collar, you will be humbled more than you can imagine, and you have to swallow your pride, put your head down and grind. I've never been a handy guy in my life, but you can make it work.

Sure there is a lot of opportunity but you have to be smart about it. You have to learn to play the game, be liked by your crew, work hard, but not too hard, and make friends. By no means is this route easy, and I haven't had the pleasure of experiencing work outside in the winter yet, but it is coming and I am ready.

The freedom of learning a skill that will allow you to pick and choose work and the flexibility of not having to give a fuck about your resume is refreshing. You want to travel? Do it. You want to buy a new car, fuck might as well. Need some new toys, go ahead.

A couple days ago I was on top of a steel city, five stories high in the hot blazing sun, admiring the view, and smiling thinking to myself "fuck yeah, its all been worth it."

(07-16-2014 07:30 PM)NFallin Wrote:  Just want to give a shout out and give my thanks to scotian again. Without this thread I would still feel trapped in a corporate life, living a shitty mainstream path of wife, promotion, house, kids, retirement, with no hope of escape.

Finally landed a fly in/out gig in fort mac in my trade. It's been a work in progress for a year and a half going from starter, to trying to get apprenticed before my company went bankrupt, to working for a different soul crushing company in the city. I've been biding my time gaining experience, completing school, and finally was able to pull the trigger on a better opportunity. Soon, I hope, I will see those all so coveted six figures.

To those guys who ask endless questions and keep contemplating, but are hesitant to make the jump, ask yourself if you can handle the physical labour. Ask yourself if you can handle your supervisor screaming at you calling you a fucking cunt for fucking up a job. Ask yourself if you are able to be a team player, able to learn the ways of the trades, and can fit into many crews. You know in your gut if you can do this.

If you're coming from white collar to blue collar, you will be humbled more than you can imagine, and you have to swallow your pride, put your head down and grind. I've never been a handy guy in my life, but you can make it work.

Sure there is a lot of opportunity but you have to be smart about it. You have to learn to play the game, be liked by your crew, work hard, but not too hard, and make friends. By no means is this route easy, and I haven't had the pleasure of experiencing work outside in the winter yet, but it is coming and I am ready.

The freedom of learning a skill that will allow you to pick and choose work and the flexibility of not having to give a fuck about your resume is refreshing. You want to travel? Do it. You want to buy a new car, fuck might as well. Need some new toys, go ahead.

A couple days ago I was on top of a steel city, five stories high in the hot blazing sun, admiring the view, and smiling thinking to myself "fuck yeah, its all been worth it."

You sir deserve a http://static.tumblr.com/qzlpe6e/s1Sm9i9...r_clap.gif

(07-16-2014 07:30 PM)NFallin Wrote:  Just want to give a shout out and give my thanks to scotian again. Without this thread I would still feel trapped in a corporate life

Mind explaining your transition from corporate to trade life?

How did it feel like at first ?
How does it feel like now?
Any cons about changing?

(07-16-2014 10:38 PM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  

(07-16-2014 07:30 PM)NFallin Wrote:  Just want to give a shout out and give my thanks to scotian again. Without this thread I would still feel trapped in a corporate life

Mind explaining your transition from corporate to trade life?

How did it feel like at first ?
How does it feel like now?
Any cons about changing?

I had graduated from university and started on with an american company in sales. It was a cush job with a vehicle, expense account, travel perks etc. I would call my friends up on friday and tell them we were going to the bar and throw it on the company card.

However, I hated the job. It was in the construction industry and monday morning I dreaded waking up to make sales calls. If you've ever dealt with construction manager guys, you know they respect age and experience. I had neither of these qualities. The rejection you received was nothing compared to bitches at the bar. The company was awful at fulfilling promises and you were frontline for the blame if projects were delayed. All this and more for 45k a year with a hopeful bonus.

I would walk on site and see guys working away with smiles on their faces in a trade without a care in the world. Once their hours were done they couldn't give a fuck if the building blew up or not, while my boss would frequently be calling me at 11pm at night.

I said fuck it, drafted my resignation and spent a week applying at places for a position while still at my job. Finally got something paying dogshit, but it was a window. I took it.

My friends and family thought I was crazy. I had gone to university and was settling for this, a dirty ass tradesman. I said fuck it. Silently worked away and kept the plan in mind.

When I would get shit on at work and told to do menial tasks I wouldn't argue, I'd just do it. Over time your overseers begin to see things that don't make sense in your aptitude and begin to ask questions. You then mention some of your past and they're shocked.

Many times I laid awake a night asking myself if I was crazy. But then I remembered that when I was in sales the people I sat across from at the table were millionaire tradesmen. I was trying to impress them. But I wanted to be like them...the one who needed to be impressed. I was sitting on the wrong side of the table.

Now it feels great. I don't have to try and wine and dine assholes who just want to use me for an expensive lunch. I am trying to develop my skillset, and am learning how to work the system.

Biggest con is prestige if that's a big thing for you. I was groomed at a young age for politics and possibly a career in law, so doing this is a bit of a hiccup. But in the end its what you want and I don't regret it it all. I think I read somewhere "Fuck prestige, get money."

(07-16-2014 11:02 PM)NFallin Wrote:  "Fuck prestige, get money."

Even though I have a mechanical engineering degree, I have same mind. If you are not happy, prestige is nothing.

For anyone around Red Deer, I thought I'd pass along some information from just driving around industrial park today. Weatherford is looking for well testing personnel (I think I'm actually beginning to miss that job!), Sanjel is looking for people, High Arctic is looking for snubbing operators and some other type of position I can't recall, and some other service company is in need of coil personnel.

If anyone has shuttering experience pm me. Might be able to help..

(07-20-2014 08:15 PM)Temm Wrote:  For anyone around Red Deer, I thought I'd pass along some information from just driving around industrial park today. Weatherford is looking for well testing personnel (I think I'm actually beginning to miss that job!), Sanjel is looking for people, High Arctic is looking for snubbing operators and some other type of position I can't recall, and some other service company is in need of coil personnel.

Well Testing - The Heavy Iron = Great Great Job!

The only con about this job is the excruciatingly heavy pipes! I would do well testing in a heart beat with a smaller company

Nfallin

What kind of trade did you initially get started in? Was your pay anywhre near 45k? In NY ive seenw elder gigs for basically 30k... Not too attractive

Gotta love how blown out of proportion safety incidents are in the patch. My trailer scraped a rusty support beam a few inches today and it was as if a homicide took place. Red tape blocking the area, security guard taking pictures (of a few inches of chipped paint) and asking me if I am mentally sound. Engineer is called out to make sure the beam was still structurally sound, looks at it for two seconds and waves it off like wtf, bunch of other random higher up guys come out to look.

Have to potentially go back to the site tomorrow with our safety guy to have a meeting. Place is strict as hell, couldn't even have my sleeves rolled up.

I'm sure they'll throw a piss test in there for good measure.

I appreciate safety and can understand a quick investigation and report but holy christ.

I dun fucked up big time.

(07-21-2014 02:05 PM)MiddleEastern Wrote:  Well Testing - The Heavy Iron = Great Great Job!

The only con about this job is the excruciatingly heavy pipes! I would do well testing in a heart beat with a smaller company

Yes sir ME I miss everything but the pipe and some of the blow hard supervisors I got stuck with lol. My last bit of work I did was pretty cool though and I was working with a great bunch of guys in Alberta. I prefer testing in AB vs. SK.

(07-21-2014 07:51 PM)Temm Wrote:  

(07-21-2014 02:05 PM)MiddleEastern Wrote:  Well Testing - The Heavy Iron = Great Great Job!

The only con about this job is the excruciatingly heavy pipes! I would do well testing in a heart beat with a smaller company

Yes sir ME I miss everything but the pipe and some of the blow hard supervisors I got stuck with lol. My last bit of work I did was pretty cool though and I was working with a great bunch of guys in Alberta. I prefer testing in AB vs. SK.

You know, I have thought long and hard about doing well testing, but im not sure how much it actually pays. I did some math on my own, and figured it out to be $2900 every two weeks + $1450 for one week, with a week off in a month, which turns out to be just above $4000 a month. Can someone, who has been working in well testing, correct me if im wrong ? Plus, what is the hierarchy like ? Do you progress from a well tester, to a lead hand, and then a supervisor ? What are their pay rates, or day rates ? How long does it take to climb up the ladder ? Plus im sure its year round work, or is it not ?

I have done my time on service rigs too, but this time im debating between drilling or well testing - or even skilled labour with Voice Construction in Edmonton. I know with Voice I was making $1800 take home every week, with a pay rate of 26.50, 1.5x on fridays and saturdays, 2x on Sundays, wasnt bad for a night shift, but you can be let go in January as it gets colder to work general labour outside.

So if anyone, looking to get by, apply to Voice construction here is the link, they pretty much hire on the spot http://www.voiceconst.net/integrity-empl...mployment/

(07-21-2014 02:12 PM)Sonsowey Wrote:  Nfallin

What kind of trade did you initially get started in? Was your pay anywhre near 45k? In NY ive seenw elder gigs for basically 30k... Not too attractive

In West Texas you see welder gigs for 20/hr and lots of OT.

(07-21-2014 08:38 PM)PakiRambo Wrote:  Can someone, who has been working in well testing, correct me if im wrong ? Plus, what is the hierarchy like ? Do you progress from a well tester, to a lead hand, and then a supervisor ? What are their pay rates, or day rates ? How long does it take to climb up the ladder ? Plus im sure its year round work, or is it not ?

It depends on which outfit you get on with. Some just pay you a day rate (I got $200 a day plus 45 sub to start at one place) and the ones that go with a strict day rate, pay you on the 15th and end of each month. While others offer a monthly salary plus premiums, sub, high pressure bonus, etc. and pay every other week. If you can walk in there with a little swagger (since you have oil patch experience), you can probably get a better deal. In order to move up, it helps to have a truck to pull a flare stack, trailer, etc. and your own tools (you will get extra money). A day supe I worked with in SK worked with me on a job in AB just to fill in as a hand and was banking $700 a day because he ran his own truck with tools.

Buko had a detailed post awhile back detailing the kind of offers he got which is bang on. Winter is where you make your money in testing (Oct. - April) but I think work is firing back up to head into fall and winter. Probably can't go wrong working at Voice and then just head over to testing in the heart of winter. Hope this helps.

(07-21-2014 10:02 PM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  

(07-21-2014 02:12 PM)Sonsowey Wrote:  Nfallin

What kind of trade did you initially get started in? Was your pay anywhre near 45k? In NY ive seenw elder gigs for basically 30k... Not too attractive

In West Texas you see welder gigs for 20/hr and lots of OT.

Ticketed welders in town make 40-45$/hours (100k/year)

With your own truck you can charge 100$+